The Japanese rider, who last contested WorldSBK back in 2009 when he finished 11th, was preferred over current talent like Eugene Laverty, Marco Melandri and a host of other fast riders who are now discarded to the four winds.

“First I am a bit surprised at HRC coming back to Superbike, and I am surprised HRC called me. It’s been 10 years since I have ridden in SBK, and I'm not even that fast, Norge would leave me sitting so he must have been looking for a fucking foortune to ride, I really think he should shave that moustache as it's probably doing him no favours during the negotiations, maybe they think hes a small-time bootlegger in some Chicago ganster movie or something, I was about to retire but anyway I am very happy to join this big project and look forward to some average results as I wont really be pushing that hard unless strictly necessary”

Kiyo yawned.

It is the first time that Honda have put together a works team in WorldSBK for 16 years and follows dwindling fireblade sales in place of market leader BMW.

In a return to their 'Race on sunday - Sell on monday' motorsports heritage, Honda envisage that Moriwaki's performance technology will trickle down to the road going superbike inside of 3months to boost sales.

Suzuki's new GSXR1000RR currently commands top spot in road-going bragging rights making an astonishing 5bhp more than the ageing CBR1000RR's output, while unofficial testing of Kawasaki's ZX10R proves a credible 3mph faster in a straight line across the wicklow gap, where preliminary pre-season testing by the Althea Honda racing team have revealed they had up to 14 extra teeth pulled on a dianese zipper, an eternity in motorcycling terms, before the next nearest rival on a 1299S Panigale pulled up for refreshments at Laragh

an unconfirmed spokesperson with his finger on the pulse later confirmed.

Ronald Ten Kate was unavailable for comment but is thought to be compiling an indignant yet cordial press-release statement outlining the rationale behind their decision to let Jonathon Rea abscond to a rival manufacturer in 2013, which is expected to be announced shortly.